Classical Music Radio Stations in San Francisco

Looking for the best classical music radio stations in San Francisco? Check out our list of top picks, including KUSF, KQED, and KDFC.

KUSF Radio

KUSF Radio is a classical music radio station in San Francisco. The station is known for its eclectic playlist and for its commitment to local and independent music. KUSF Radio is also a great place to find new music, as the staff is always on the lookout for the latest and greatest in the classical world.

Location

KUSF (90.3 MHz) is a non-commercial educational radio station in San Francisco, California. It is owned by the University of San Francisco and is the student-run college radio station of that school. The station’s transmitter site is on Twin Peaks.

KUSF’s programming consists mostly of classical music, but also airs shows focused on jazz, world music, comedy, and public affairs. The station has appeared in national media, including an episode of Hannibal and a mention in the 2015 film Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.

History

KUSF was an FCC-licensed non-commercial educational radio station in San Francisco, California, broadcasting at 90.3 MHz FM.Owned and operated by the University of San Francisco, the station’s transmitter was located on Twin Peaks and its studios were in McLaren Hall on the USF campus in the Sunset District.

KUSF began broadcasting on October 15, 1966 as a 10-watt student-run college radio station. It was licensed by the FCC on May 1, 1967 as a non-commercial educational station with the call letters KUSF, assigned to the University of San Francisco. In July 1967, KUSF increased power to 100 watts. In September 1967, KUSF was forced off the air when its transmitter site atop Corona Heights was condemned by the City of San Francisco for construction of an apartment complex. The station relocated its transmitter to Mount Sutro and returned to the air in December 1967. In January 1968, KUSF increased power to 1,000 watts and became stereo; in June 1968 it increased power again to 3,000 watts daytime/1,000 watts nighttime.

Programs

Every weekday morning from 9 to noon, KUSF in Your Area presents a variety of music programs to suit classical music lovers of all tastes.

The first hour of programming features lively and exciting music to start your day off right, including selections from the Baroque, Classical, and early Romantic periods. The second hour focuses on music by the great masters of the 19th and 20th centuries. And the last hour is devoted to music of our time, featuring living composers from around the world.

In addition to these weekday programs, KUSF in Your Area also offers a variety of special programs on weekends. On Saturday mornings, tune in for Handel’s Messiah Sing-Along, followed by our Opera Appreciation series. On Sunday mornings, we offer a program of sacred music, followed by a show featuring the best in new releases.

Whether you’re a longtime classical music fan or just getting started, KUSF in Your Area has something for you!

KALW Radio

KALW Radio is a public radio station in San Francisco, California, broadcasting to the San Francisco Bay Area on 91.7 FM. KALW is a member station of National Public Radio (NPR). The station is owned by the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and is operated by the district’s adult education program.

Location

KALW is located in the San Francisco Bay Area at 44 Fell Street, just off Market Street in downtown San Francisco. The station’s transmitter is located on Twin Peaks.

History

In 1947, San Francisco State College (now San Francisco State University) applied for and received a construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission to build a 10-watt college radio station. KUSF started broadcasting on December 12, 1953 from the Memorial Gymnasium on the campus of San Francisco State College, at a frequency of 91.3 MHz FM. In 1957, the station was assigned the call sign KCSF as a result of SF State having changed its name that year. The station’s call sign was changed to KALW in late 1963. At that time various Musical and Public Affairs programs were broadcast during the day while Vocational Education programs were broadcast in the evening hours four days per week.

Programs

KALW Radio is a public radio station in San Francisco, California. It is owned by the San Francisco Unified School District and operated by National Public Radio member station KQED. The station broadcasts at 91.7 MHz on the FM band.

KALW’s programming consists of news and public affairs during the day, and classical music at night. The station’s daytime schedule is anchored by its flagship news program, Your Call with Rose Aguilar, which airs weekdays from 10am to noon. Other daytime programs include Crosscurrents with Hana Baba, an eclectic mix of music, arts, culture, and politics; and Bay Area Bountiful, a weekly look at Bay Area food and agriculture issues.

At night, KALW airs classical music programming from NPR member station KUSC in Los Angeles.

KDFC Radio

KDFC is a non-commercial classical radio station in San Francisco, California, which is owned by the University of San Francisco. The station’s transmitter is atop the Marin Headlands, and its studios are in downtown San Francisco. KDFC is one of the most listened-to classical music radio stations in the United States.

Location

KDFC (102.1 FM) is a non-commercial radio station in the San Francisco Bay Area broadcasting classical music. It is owned by the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music and is a member of National Public Radio.

KDFC’s studios are in San Francisco’s SoMa district, and its transmitter is atop the Sutro Tower. The station broadcasts two channels: KDFC-FM1 with full-time classical programming, and KDFC-FM2 featuring lighter classics and pop music on weekdays and opera on weekends.

History

KDFC (102.1 MHz “Radio KDFC”) is a non-commercial classical music radio station in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is owned by the University of Southern California through its USC Radio Group subsidiary, and operated by Entercom through a local marketing agreement (LMA). The station’s transmitter is on Twin Peaks. Its studios and offices are on Battery Street in downtown San Francisco.

The station signed on the air on November 1, 1947 as KFRC-FM, simulcasting its sister station KFRC 610 kHz. KFRC-FM was originally licensed to Oakland, and its transmitter site was atop the Stockton Street Tunnel in downtown Oakland. On October 6, 1954, the radio station increased its power to 80,000 watts and moved its transmitter to Mt. Diablo. In 1957, the call letters were changed to KHIP-FM.

Programs

KDFC (102.1 FM) is a non-commercial classical music radio station in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is owned by University of Southern California. The station’s transmitter is on McLaren Ridge in Marin County, and its studios and offices are on Battery Street in downtown San Francisco.

KDFC is a member of the KDFC Radio Network, which syndicates the classical music format to other radio stations across the United States. The station also simulcasts on two HD Radio subchannels: KDFC-FM1 features an all-day classical music format, while KDFC-FM2 airs “The Class”, an eclectic mix of contemporary and classic rock, pop, jazz and world music influenced by classical sounds.

KDFC has its origins in KLX (1450 AM), which began broadcasting on March 10, 1922. It was licensed to Berkeley, California, and initially owned by Warren Atherton and Frank Chalmers perceive classical music as stodgy or intimidating.

Thanks for listening!